Identity: New Short Fiction from Africa

African Identities are too often defined for us and not by us. The call for this anthology asked writers from the continent and the diaspora for innovative short fiction that explores identity, especially (but not limited to) the themes of gender identity and sexuality; that looks beyond the boundaries of expectation, into the truest definitions of ourselves.
This powerful collection is the result. It showcases the multiple ways in which African writers see themselves and their communities, and the depth, variety and innovation of their interpretations. From Benin to Ethiopia, from Morocco to South Africa, the stories here reveal uncomfortable and fascinating truths about who we are. In a world of rising nationalism and factionalism, of increasingly crude and reductive notions of identity, these stories insist on the complexity, intimacy and interconnectedness of African identities. Prepare to be amazed, challenged and enchanted.

SSDA is one of the most successful short story organizations on the continent with all of its previous anthologies receiving significant critical acclaim. SSDA celebrates the diversity of Africa’s voices and ‘tell you who we really are; what we love; love to eat, read, write about. We want to bring you the scents on our street corners, the gossip from our neighbours, let you listen to strains of the music we dance to.’ Authentic African stories offering alternative short stories, stepping away from ‘the single story, a distorted, one-dimensional view of Africa that sees the continent only through a prism of war, disease, poverty, starvation and corruption.’ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Danger of the Single Story.